Former big name video game publisher THQ is now defunct.
Amidst financial troubles and bankruptcy filings, the publisher known for franchises like “Saints Row” and “Red Faction” has now dissolved and sold off all their assets. Many attribute the company’s major financial loss to the flop of their uDraw drawing peripheral, a drawing tablet for consoles that allows players to draw shapes and objects onto a tablet surface.
Despite the publisher’s folding, many of their well-known franchises will live on under new owners. Sega Corp. purchased Relic Entertainment, known for the “Company of Heroes” franchise. Koch Media purchased studio Volition, known for “Saints Row”. Big name publisher Ubisoft picked up the license for “South Park”, and developer Crytek now controls the “Homefront” franchise.
Sadly, “Darksiders” developer Vigil Games did not survive the license auction and has since folded, along with many talented employees. THQ CEO Jason Rubin, who founded the Sony studio Naughty Dog, tweeted “I am truly sorry for the employees and fans of @vigilgames. It is a travesty that the team and its potential were not recognized.”
It’s a shame to see THQ go out like this. With the recent taking on of Rubin as CEO, the studio was making some good changes. They had plans to focus more on game development and making fresh new content.
For example, the staff of Volition cancelled development on a comical downloadable content expansion for “Saints Row: The Third” in order to shift their focus on developing the fourth title of the franchise. Rubin had the goal of putting out titles that would be on the level of critically acclaimed games like Rockstar’s “Red Dead Redemption”.
The Humble THQ Bundle, a partnership with the Humble Bundle team, was a pay-what-you-want bundle of AAA THQ titles that was a huge success. Earning nearly $5 million in sales, the bundle was a welcome breath of reassuring air following their financial woes.
Unfortunately, it just wasn’t enough.
Aside from the fate of Vigil Games, it’s good to see THQ’s studios go to good homes. It is a major relief that big controversial mogul publisher Electronic Arts has not picked up any of the licenses.
Known for their questionable downloadable content practices and corporate malpractice, it’s a safe thought knowing that franchises like “Company of Heroes” and “Metro 2033” won’t be marketed with dubstep-filled trailers.
Nonetheless, rest in peace, THQ.
Amidst financial troubles and bankruptcy filings, the publisher known for franchises like “Saints Row” and “Red Faction” has now dissolved and sold off all their assets. Many attribute the company’s major financial loss to the flop of their uDraw drawing peripheral, a drawing tablet for consoles that allows players to draw shapes and objects onto a tablet surface.
Despite the publisher’s folding, many of their well-known franchises will live on under new owners. Sega Corp. purchased Relic Entertainment, known for the “Company of Heroes” franchise. Koch Media purchased studio Volition, known for “Saints Row”. Big name publisher Ubisoft picked up the license for “South Park”, and developer Crytek now controls the “Homefront” franchise.
Sadly, “Darksiders” developer Vigil Games did not survive the license auction and has since folded, along with many talented employees. THQ CEO Jason Rubin, who founded the Sony studio Naughty Dog, tweeted “I am truly sorry for the employees and fans of @vigilgames. It is a travesty that the team and its potential were not recognized.”
It’s a shame to see THQ go out like this. With the recent taking on of Rubin as CEO, the studio was making some good changes. They had plans to focus more on game development and making fresh new content.
For example, the staff of Volition cancelled development on a comical downloadable content expansion for “Saints Row: The Third” in order to shift their focus on developing the fourth title of the franchise. Rubin had the goal of putting out titles that would be on the level of critically acclaimed games like Rockstar’s “Red Dead Redemption”.
The Humble THQ Bundle, a partnership with the Humble Bundle team, was a pay-what-you-want bundle of AAA THQ titles that was a huge success. Earning nearly $5 million in sales, the bundle was a welcome breath of reassuring air following their financial woes.
Unfortunately, it just wasn’t enough.
Aside from the fate of Vigil Games, it’s good to see THQ’s studios go to good homes. It is a major relief that big controversial mogul publisher Electronic Arts has not picked up any of the licenses.
Known for their questionable downloadable content practices and corporate malpractice, it’s a safe thought knowing that franchises like “Company of Heroes” and “Metro 2033” won’t be marketed with dubstep-filled trailers.
Nonetheless, rest in peace, THQ.
Story by Aaron Gilje
